I saw this in a paper and it raises concern for me,I will like to hear from the elites what they think about this.

Baring any further hitches, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) would this year begin to carry arms in line with its mandate to complement the activities of other security agencies.

NSCDC, a para-military agency of the Federal Government was established to provide measures against threat and any form of attack or disaster on the nation and its citizenry. It is statutorily empowered by Act No. 2 of 2003 and amended by Act 6 of June, 2007.

Speaking on the occasion of the World Civil Defence Day held in Abuja yesterday, Minister of Interior, Alhaji Shettima Mustapha, said the internal security of the nation was of utmost importance and as such all measures would be put in place to ensure internal security.

This is coming on a day the House of Representatives said with the inclusion of the provision for the procurement of arms in the 2010 Appropriation Act, the organisation would be in a position to carry arms this year.

Mustapha, who spoke through the new Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs Dara Awosika, said ensuring the internal security of the nation was imperative if the external security of the nation would be guaranteed.

"If you do not protect the internal security of the country, you cannot talk about the external", she said, noting that the preparedness of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps to collaborate with other security agencies depicted its readiness to assume its statutory functions including to carry arms in a safe manner.


Speaking in the same vein, a member of the House of Representatives Committee on Interior, Honourable Austin Nwachukwu, said the issue of arms for the NSCDC was already captured in the 2010 Budget and would soon be made available to the corps.

"In the 2010 Budget, arms for the agency was captured and is already provided for and you will soon have it", he said, noting that other demands of organisation were being considered and would be adequately addressed.

In his remarks, Commandant-General of the Corps, Ade Abolurin, who showcased anti-vandalism, counter-terrorism equipment and other activities of the organisation, also noted that as soon as arms were made available to the organisation, it would be in a better position to discharge its responsibilities.